Mental Health App Could Help Prevent Depression in High-Risk People

Anxiety and depression rates among young people have been increasing for quite some time now. So, there’s a dire need to tackle it and possibly, prevent these mental illnesses in people who are at high risk. Thankfully, a new study suggests that a specially designed mental health app could help prevent depression in young people who are at high risk of developing the disorder.

The app makes use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and could be an affordable and convenient solution to this global pandemic.

The Research

The research project, which was the largest of its kind was conducted across four countries—UK, Germany, Belgium, and Spain. The study involved 3,700 young people aged 16 to 22, who were divided into two groups: the first group indicated a higher risk for depression due to overthinking and anxiety, etc., while the second group had a lower depression risk.

Participants were introduced to three different apps:

1. Self-monitoring app for tracking their emotions daily.
2. Self-help app which provided personalized training to enhance emotional competence.
3. CBT-based self-help app which used cognitive behavioral therapy principles for managing negative thoughts and feelings.

The results showed that the CBT-based app prevented depression in young people who were at high risk of depression. However, there was no significant impact on people who had lower risk and were basically doing ok. They also didn’t experience an enhanced well-being.

As the lead author Professor Ed Watkins duly noted, this mental health app may only be effective for at-risk people and may be unnecessary for the general public. Which is why it’s crucial to determine vulnerable individuals. The self-screening app can help users identify if they’re at risk and if using the CBT app will benefit them.

Final Thoughts

Even minimal use of the CBT app led to meaningful benefits in depression prevention for vulnerable individuals. This can become a public health solution to the mental health epidemic ravaging our communities, especially among young adults. Although, we must admit there is still much to learn.

The research team plans to identify the specific elements within the app that contributed to its success and how to keep users engaged over time. This insight could help refine the app further, making it even more beneficial for young people.

While the app undergoes refinement before hitting the public, you still can get help now. If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression, we have a range of treatments that can help, including CBT and medication. We want to talk to you.

Contact us today.

Author

Satu H. Woodland, PMHCNS-BC, APRN Satu Woodland is owner and clinician of Hope Mental Health, an integrative mental health practice located at Bown Crossing in Boise, Idaho. She sees children, adolescents, and adults.  Ms. Woodland with her background in nursing, prefers a holistic and integrative approach to mental health care that addresses the mind and body together. While Ms. Woodland provides medication management services in all her patients, she believes in long-lasting solutions that include a number of psychotherapies, namely cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, attention to lifestyle, evidenced based alternative psychiatric care and spirituality. If you’d like to gain control over your mental health issues, call Hope Mental Health at 208-918-0958, or use the online scheduling tool to set up an initial consultation.